Reinforced welt top for stockings



June 15, 1954 R. L. HALL REINFORCED WELT TOP FOR STOCKINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1949 ATTORNEY Julie 15, 1954 HALL 2,680,960

REINFORCED WELT TOP FOR STOCKINGS Filed April 30, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 9C? BEA INVENTOR.

R. HALL June 15, 1954 led April 30, 1949 L INVENTOR. Mada 5% 550x56 Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES RATENT OFFICE Richard L. Hall, Frederick, Md, assignor to Union Manufacturing Co-., Frederick, Md., a corporatime. of Maryland Application April 30, 1949, Serial No. 90,569-

8 Claims.-

My invention relates broadly to hosiery, and more particularly to improved construction of welt for stockings, for allowing proper stretching of the welt to form with the shape of the leg of the wearer, and provide proper reinforcement for attachment of garter connections without subjecting the fabric of the welt to excessive strain, or wear.

One of the objects of my invention. is to providean improved construction of knitted welt for womens hose, comprising portions: constituted by blocks and substantially triangleshaped areas, each of which perform enacting functions in reinforcing the welt and providing garter connections thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved construction of welt for use in which reinforced areas of widely different geometrical shapes are provided on both the inside and outside of the welt, or either side, and arranged to provide a reinforced surface for the connection of garter clasps, at the same time permitting stretching of the welt at those positions around the top of the stocking which will insure a conforirring of the stocking to the shape of the leg.

Another object of my invention is to" provide a construction of welt for stockings in which. the front of the welt is provided with a reinforced rectangular area, whereas diametrically opposite sides of the welt are provided with substantially triangularly reinforced areas terminating depending base bands of reinforced areas wherein the reinforced areas coact in imparting required strength to the welt, at the same time imparting proper stretchability to zones in the welt intermediate the reinforced portions.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved welt for stockings in which a reinforcing thread isv knitted with the welt. in a predetermined pattern to provide spaced reinforcing zones around the welt where the reinforcement is confined to widely different geometrical shapes designed to impart stretchability to the welt in those positions around the top of the stocking which have been found essential to as sure a smooth fit with respect to the leg of the wearer, and at the same time afford necessary reinforcement for attachment of garter clasps without detriment to the elasticity of the portions of the welt intermediate the reinforced areas.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved welt constrution for stockings, having a reinforcing thread knitted with. spaced portions of the welt, with the reinforced thread confined to a rectangular, vertically extending panel in the welt at the front of the stocking and separate reinforcing threads knitted. into the sides of the weltv in substantially horizontally extending panelsspaced from the vertically extend-- i-n-g panel and tapering to anapex in a position in the welt coplanar with the: terminus of the rectangular panel reinforcement whereby the reinforced areas perform different functions the welt during standig, walking or sitting positions of the wearer, while maintaining conformity of the welt with the leg and providing reinforced attachment areas for garter clasps.

Other and. further objects of my invention reside inan improved, construction of weltfor stockings, enabling the welt to smoothly fit the leg of the wearer without wrinkling in various positions of the leg, and providing that measure of reinforcement essential to the improvement of wear in the welt, as set forth more fully in. the specification hereinafter following by reference: to the following drawings, in which:

Figure l is aview of a stocking embodying. the improved welt constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig; 2 is an elevational view of a. fragmentary portion of the top of the stocking, showing the reinforcing areas knitted into the welt of the stockingbelowthe topof the welt; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the top of the stocking substantially on linev 3-3 of Fig; 2;. Fig. 4 is an elevational. view showing the welt of the stocking after is wholly formed by folding over the top of the stocking behind the rein-- forced portion of the welt, with the spaced areas of differing geometrical shapes clearly visible therethroug-h; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the reinforced welt in the folded. position thereof, the view being taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view of the well in a theoretically expanded position, which would be the condition if the stocking were not seamed, the view showing the relative location of the fit reinforcing panel and the symmetrically arranged triangularly shaped panels with wide depending bases thereon, disposedv in spaced relation to: one posite sides of the rectangular panel; Fig. '7 is a view of the welt of the stocking in the unstretched condition as received by the user; Fig. 8 is a view showing the welt of the stocking when the steclring isapplied to the leg of the wearer, and illustrating the different functions performed hy the reinforced zones of differing geometrical shapes; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged theoretical view shov ing the manner of knitting the reinforcing thread the spaced geometrical areas of the welt the stocking, the view particularly showing the mannor in which the reinforcing thread is started in forming the substantially triangularly shaped reinforcing area.

My invention is directed to an improved method of knitting the welt of a stocking to provide contrastingly difierent forms of reinforced areas in the welt, spaced. from one another, and geometrically shaped to insure the conforming of the welt of the stocking to the leg. The reinforced areas are geometrically shaped, the area at the front of the welt being rectangular, and the reinforcing areas at the sides of the welt being substantially triangle-shaped with wide, reinforcing bandlike bases. The reinforced areas hold the stocking in place at all times and absorb the major strain, whether the wearer is standing erect, walking, or sitting with the knee bent. The garment clasps are attached to these reinforced areas. In the conventional girdle there are depending garter connections at the front and side positions, and the clasps at these garter connections are attached to the reinforced areas in the welt. That is to say, one garment clasp is attached to the rectangular reinforced area at the front of the welt, and another garter clasp is connected to the substantially triangle-shaped area at the outside of the welt. The garter clasp attached to the substantially triangle-shaped reinforced area at the outside of the welt, serves the purpose of taking up the slack in the stocking at all times, in all positions, insuring a smooth fit without wrinkles. The rectangular area at the front of the welt constitutes a fixed reinforcing area of the welt, whereas the substantially triangle-shaped areas are quite variable in the form, taking up the necessary distortions in the welt to enable the welt to conform to the shape of the leg at the thigh. The invention is particuiarly advantageous in meeting practical conditions of various shapes and sizes, and under and oversize conditions in the leg.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, reference character I shows a stocking having a welt 2 extending from the line of connection 3 with the stocking i, to the upper extremity of the welt, designated at 4. As shown in Fig. 2, reinforcing areas are knitted into the welt of the stocking,- commencing approximately midway of the welt 2 along the line indicated at 5, leaving the upper portion 6 of the welt 2 clear to be folded inside the stocking as represented at Fig. 5. The reinforcement is formed by a reinforcing thread i, which is knitted simultaneously with the knitting of the thread 8, forming the welt as shown more particularly in Fig. 9. I

have shown the horizontal courses of the welt on an enlarged scale by reference letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H, while the vertical series of loops constituting the wale of the knitting is represented at I, 2, 3, G, 5, 6 or 1'. The reinforcing thread i, introduced in the knitting process substantially halfway'down the welt 2 where the area 6 thereof is free and clear, is looped at 9 and [6 through adjacent wale loops represented at H, [2, i3 and it. The reinforcing thread 7 is looped downwardly at !5 and within wale loop 13, is then carried in a reverse direction through adjacent wale loops Hi, I? and i5 and upwardly through wale loop ll, whence it is again turned downwardly, as represented at l9, through wale loop l8 and knitted in the reverse direction through welt loops 2E, 2| and 22, extending upwardly around wale loop 16 and downwardly at 23, through wale loop 22 and around wale loops 24, 25 and 2t, and con- 4 tinuing on horizontal course E" through wale loops 2'1, 28, 29 and 30, beyond the vertical series of wale loops 5 for two additional vertical series of wale loops 6' and 'l, in a horizontal direction to the right, whence the reinforcing thread extends upwardly and is looped through wale loop 3! and extends downwardly at 32 and through wale loop 36, whence the reinforcing thread is looped through wale loops 33, 3 2, 35, 35, 3?, 33 and 39, and continuing to the left beyond the vertical series of wale loops i through two additional vertical series of wale loops at 3 and 2, as represented at G0, 4!, t2 and d3, whence the reinforcing thread is looped downwardly as represented at 4 extending through wale loop 53 and around wale loops 5, d6, 4?, at, 49, 5%, 51, 52, 53, 5 1 and 55, continuing from the end 55 thereof to form a repeat pattern. The balance of thereinforced knitting is carried out in a similar manner. Fig. 9 illustrates merely the commencement of the reinforcement which is effected at the apex portion 57 of the substantially triangle-shaped area 58 of the reinforcement. The scale at which Fig. 9 has been drawn is so magnified with respect to the scale at which the balance of the figures of the drawing are prepared, that the formation of the knitting in Fig. 9 appears abrupt in steps, progressing downwardly as the horizontal courses are formed progressively. In the final knitted appearance of the stocking, however, the substantially triangleshaped area 58 appears in geometrical form, as represented in Figs. 1-8, with apparent linear peripheral boundaries. As the base of the substantially triangle-shaped area 57 is approached, the limits at which the reinforcing thread is continued in the horizontal courses is abruptly restricted, so that a bandlike reinforcement area 59 is produced in the welt immediately above the line of connection 3 to the stocking i, the reinforcement thread being terminated in the line of connection with the welt, 3, after the forming of the broad base area 59 of the reinforcement. This provides for a predetermined flexible area for the welt intermediate the spaced rectangular reinforcement area 60. The reinforcement area 60 is knitted progressively in horizontal courses in the welt, simultaneously with the knitting of the substantially triangle-shaped areas, one of which I have described at 58, and the other of which is shown at $1 in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and which is knitted in horizontal courses progressively and simultaneously with the reinforcement areas 58 and 6t, and symmetrically to the reinforcement area 53. The substantially triangleshaped area 5i is continued in a wide band base 62, in a manner similar to the wide band base 59 of reinforcement area 58. Thus the reinforcement areas 58 and El are formed symmetrically on substantially opposite sides of the welt, and spaced from opposite sides of the rectangularly shaped reinforcement St to provide flexible zones, which I have designated at D and B and C and E, which are stretchable for conforming the welt to the leg. The reinforced areas have been designated in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 by the letters X, Y and Z, having a normal altitude G. The width of rectangular reinforced area rib is designated F, while the width of the wide band bases of the substantially triangle-shaped areas X and Y have been designated by H and A respectively. The stocking as purchased by the customer is shown with the arrangement of welt represented in Fig. '7 or Fig. 1. The stocking when in use is represented in Fig. 8, with the garter suspensions aceaeco 653' and 64' depending. from the girdle attached by garment clasps 55 and 56- respectively to the rectangular reinforced area 60- and the substantially triangle-shaped area 6|. The welt is protected against strain at the points of connection of the garment clasps because the garment clasps are attached in the reinforced areas Z and Y, leaving the soft, fine material of the welt intermediate these reinforced areas free to stretch and yield, as represented at C, B,. D' and E in Fig. 8. The geometrical formation of the substantially triangle-shaped area 6| has been selected to taper off the reinforcement area progressively from the line of connection 3 of the welt of the stocking, to facilitate a two-way stretch of the reinforcement areas both horizontally and vertically, as particularly brought out in Fig. 8 by the distortion afforded in the reinforcement areas Y and Z.

In Fig. 5 I have shown more clearly the manner in which the clear area of the welt at t is folded interiorly of the stocking behind the reinforced welt 2, and joined at G1 to the line of connection 3 between the top of the stocking l and the welt 2. The ornamental design provided by the rela- I tionship of the geometrical reinforcement areas is readily visible through the fabric of the welt of the stocking.

Wherever in the claims I have referred to the folding of the upper portion of the welt over and inside the portion of the welt containing the reinforcement threads, I desire that it be understood that this upper portion of the welt may be folded over and outside the portion containing the reinforcement threads and connected with the top of the stocking. Also, wherever in the claims I have referred to the reinforcement threads as being knittedintothe welt, I desire that it be understood that these reinforcement threads may be on the inside or the outside of the welt, or either side thereof, or both.

I have found the construction of welt as set forth herein highly practical and useful, but I realize that modifications may suggest themselves from the broad presentation of the invention which I have made herein, and I desire that it be understood that no limitations upon my invention are intended other than may be imposed by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by I Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a stocking, a knitted two-ply welt forming the top of the stocking, reinforcement threads knitted into the knitted welt adjacent threads of the knitted welt, commencing substantially at the top thereof in geometrical forms of different shapes, and spaced from each other in separate areas around the circumference of the welt, one ply of the welt being free of reinforcement, the said welt having said other ply disposed inside the ply of the knitted welt containing the reinforcement threads.

2. In a stocking, a knitted two-ply welt formed in progressive horizontal courses and forming the top of the leg portion of the stocking, reinforcement threads knitted adjacent selected vertical wale loops commencing substantially at the top thereof and advancing progressively in horizontal courses to form geometrical areas in the welt spaced from each other circumferentially of the welt, at least one of said geometrical areas being rectangular in form while others of said geometrical areas are substantially triangular in form, the said reinforcement threads terminating at the lower edge of one ply of the welt at the 6; connection therewith with the leg portion of the stocking, the said other ply of the welt being disposed inside the pl'y' of the welt containing the reinforcement threads.

3. In a stocking, a knitted two-ply welt formed in progressive horizontal courses forming the top of the leg portion of the stocking, reinforcement threads knitted adjacent selected vertical wale loops commencing substantially at the top thereof and advancing progressively in horizontal courses to form geometrical areas in one ply of the welt spaced from each other circumferentially thereof, at least one of said geometrical areas being rectangular in form while others of saidgeom'etri-cal areas are substantially triangular in form, the major of said rectangular area of reinforcement ex ending coincidental with the length of the leg portion of the stocking, the said reinforcement threads terminating at the lower end of one ply of the welt at the connection therewith with the leg portion of the stocking, said other ply of the welt being disposed in side the ply of the welt containing the reinforcemerit threads.

4-. In a stocking, a knitted two-pl welt formed in progressive horizontal courses forming the top of the leg portion of the stocking, reinforcement threads knitted adjacent selected vertical wale loops commencing substantial-1y at the top thereof and advancing progressively in horizontal courses to form geometrical areas in the welt spaced from each other circumferentially of the welt, at least one of said geometrical areas being rectangular in form whileothersof said geometrical areas are substantially triangular in form, the major axis of said rectangular area of reinforcement being coincidental with the length of the leg portion of the stocking, said triangular reinforcement areas each having wide band bases extending to the lower edge of one ply of the welt, the said reinforcement threads terminating at the lower edge of said ply of the welt at the connection therewith with the leg portion of the stocking, the said other ply being disposed inside the ply of the Welt containing the reinforcement threads.

5. In a stocking, a knitted two-ply welt forming the top of the leg portion of the stocking, reinforcement threads knitted into the knitted welt adjacent threads of the welt, commencing substantially at the top thereof in progressive horizontal courses and in selected vertical wale loops of the welt, and forming difiering geometrical shapes spaced from each other circumferentially of the welt, one of the reinforced areas being formed in a rectangle located in the front ply of the welt and others of said reinforced areas being formed in areas substantially in the shape of triangles and disposed in said ply at opposite sides of said ply of the welt, the said welt having its other ply disposed inside the portion containing the reinforcement threads.

6. In a stocking, a knitted two-ply welt forming the top of the leg portion of the stocking, reinforcement threads knitted into the knitted welt adjacent threads of the welt, commencing substantially at the top thereof in progressive horizontal courses and in selected vertical wale loops of the welt, and forming diifering geometrical shapes spaced from. each other circumferentially of the welt, one of the reinforced areas being formed in a rectangle located in the front ply of the welt and others of said reinforced areas being formed in areas substantially in the shape of triangles at opposite sides of the Welt, the rectangular area of said ply of reinforcement having its major axis extending coincidental with the length of the leg portion of the stocking, the said welt having its other ply folded over and inside the ply containing the reinforcement threads.

7. In a stocking, a knitted two-play welt forming the top of the stocking, reinforcement threads knitted into the knitted welt adjacent threads of the welt, commencing substantially at the top thereof in progressive horizontal courses and in selected vertical Wale loops of the welt, and forming differing geometrical shapes spaced from each other circumferentially of the welt, one of the reinforced areas being formed in a rectangle located at the front ply of the welt and others of said reinforced areas being formed in said ply in areas substantially in the shape of triangles at opposite sides of the welt, the rectangular area of reinforcement having its major axis ex tending coincidental with the length of the leg portion of the stocking, the said reinforcement areas substantially in the shape of triangles terminating in wide band bases, the sides of which are spaced from the sides of the rectangular area of reinforcement and the lower edges of which connect with the leg portion of the stocking, the said welt having its other ply disposed inside the ply containing the reinforcement threads.

8. In a stocking, a knitted two-ply welt forming the top of the leg portion of the stocking, reinforcement threads knitted into the knitted Welt adjacent threads of the welt in horizontal courses commencing substantially at the top thereof in geometrical areas of differing shapes, at least two of said geometrical areas comprising substantially triangularly shaped areas disposed on op posite sides of a substantially rectangular shaped area formed by continuing the reinforcement threads in increasing numbers of vertical wale loops as the horizontal courses of the said welt advance downwardly for forming the substantially triangularly shaped areas, providing a tapered reinforcement zone in one ply of the welt terminating in a horizontal band of reinforcement threads intermediate the substantially rectangularly shaped area with opposite ends of each of the horizontal bands of reinforcement threads in said ply extending substantially parallel with lines extending through the apex of each of said substantially triangularly shaped reinforcement areas, said substantially rectangular area of reinforcement threads being disposed in the front ply with the major axis thereof coincidental with the length of the leg portion of the stocking and with the sides thereof extending in spaced substantially parallel relation to the ends of the horizontal bands of reinforcement at the bases of said triangularly shaped reinforcement areas, the said welt having its other ply disposed inside the portion containing the reinforcement threads.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,237,865 Brown Aug. 21, 1917 1,473,686 Sullivan Nov. 13, 1923 1,529,928 Schuster Mar. 17, 1925 1,955,422 Hecker Apr. 17, 1934 1,992,667 Ischinger Feb. 26, 1935 2,057,056 Quinn Oct. 13, 1936 2,099,539 Shively Nov. 16, 1937 2,108,615 Ruckel Feb. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 141,734 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1920 

